Legal Officer – Plastics Unit

About the role

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is seeking a Legal Officer to join its Industry and Economy Division, Plastics Unit, in Nairobi. The incumbent will support countries in developing and enforcing legal frameworks to combat plastic pollution, providing technical assistance, capacity building, and legal analysis.

Key responsibilities

• Administer legal technical assistance and capacity‑building programmes on plastic pollution for individual countries.
• Conduct extensive legal research and produce studies, comparative analyses, briefs, reports and correspondence.
• Review legal documents, instruments and other materials across the plastics value chain to identify issues, similarities and inconsistencies.
• Interpret and advise on the application of national, regional and international environmental laws related to plastic pollution.
• Prepare background notes, policy briefs and support materials for senior legal officers and decision‑makers.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree in law (LL.M. or equivalent) with a focus on environmental or international law.
• Demonstrated experience in environmental law, preferably with exposure to plastic‑pollution regulations.
• Strong analytical abilities and experience conducting comparative legal research.
• Excellent written communication skills for drafting legal documents and reports.
• Ability to work collaboratively with government agencies, customs, judiciary and other stakeholders.

Required skills

• Legal research and analysis
• Drafting legal documents and policy briefs
• Comparative legal analysis

What we offer

• Opportunity to influence global environmental policy on plastic pollution.
• Work within a multidisciplinary team at a leading UN agency.
• Professional development and capacity‑building opportunities.